M62 shuts both ways as drivers warned of major traffic disruption

A stretch of motorway in Greater Manchester will be shut again this weekend as work to replace a railway bridge continues.

The M62 has now closed in both directions around Rochdale, Heywood and Middleton from 9pm tonight (September 20) until 6am on Monday (September 23). It is the second weekend this month that the motorway will been shut as the Castleton bridge is replaced.

The last closure two weeks ago resulted in huge tailbacks and congestion. It comes as Network Rail replaces a railway bridge that runs through Castleton, carrying trains over the M62 between Manchester and Rochdale as part of a £22m project.

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Highways bosses are urging drivers planning to use the M62 this weekend to delay their journey or plan a different route.

Gary Farrell, National Highways' senior network planner, said: "During the first weekend closure we had significant if unsurprising congestion at times on the approaches to the closure along both the clockwise M60 and westbound M62 as well as the diversion routes. This weekend, queues are likely again along the M60, M62 and diversion routes especially during the day and we strongly urge people planning to travel to delay their journeys or use alternative routes well away from this part of the motorway network.

"At the very least people should be checking for congestion or incidents before setting out and leaving extra time for journeys."

This weekend, the M62 will be closed eastbound from junction 18 at Simister Island to junction 20 at Rochdale, while the westbound carriageway will be closed between junction 20 and junction 19 at Heywood. Drivers heading east are being asked to get off to junction